Split lock keeper

ABSTRACT

A TWO-PART OR SPLIT LOCK KEEPER INCLUDES A BRACKET OR RETAINER MOUNTABLE ON A CABINET WALL BY SCREWS. A USHAPED KEEPER BODY WHICH ENGAGES THE BOLT OF A LOCK ON A DOOR IS ATTACHED TO THE BRACKET BY FURTHER SCREWS. LEGS OF THE KEEPER BODY COVER THE SCREWS HOLDING THE BRACKET. WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED IT COVERS AND CONCEALS SCREWS HOLDING THE KEEPER BODY ON THE BRACKET.

Sept. 20, 1971 I .1. PARMEL. JR 3,606,430

' [SPLIT LOCK KEEPER v Filed Dec. 10, 1969 INVI'JN'IOR. ERNEST J.PARRELR United States Patent Ofice 3,606,430 Patented Sept. 20, 19713,606,430 SPLIT LOCK KEEPER Ernest J. Parmel, Jr., Long Island City,N.Y., assignor to Traulsen & Co., Inc, College Point, N.Y. Filed Dec.10, 1969, Ser. No. 883,927 Int. Cl. Eb 15/02 U.S. Cl. 292-34118 7 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A two-part or split lock keeper includes abracket or retainer mountable on a cabinet wall by screws. A U- shapedkeeper body which engages the bolt of a lock on a door is attached tothe bracket by further screws. Legs of the keeper body cover the screwsholding the bracket. When the door is closed it covers and concealsscrews holding the keeper body on the bracket.

This invention pertains to a lock keeper and more particularly to asplit lock keeper which is so arranged that it can be adjustablypositioned in relation to an associated lock on a door only when thedoor is opened. When the door is closed the screws holding the parts ofthe lock keeper are concealed and inaccessible.

Lock keepers heretofore known which are used to engage locks on doors ofcabinets, refrigerators, freezers and the like have generally had thedisadvantage of being mounted with externally accessible screws. Thusthe security afforded by the locks has been defeated due to ease withwhich the lock keepers could be removed to open the doors.

According to the present invention there is provided a two-parttamper-proof lock keeper. The lock keeper has a flat rectangular bracketor retainer formed with two elongated holes through which screws can beinserted for mounting the bracket on a wall or door jamb of a cabinet.The elongated holes permit lateral adjustment of the bracket forprecisely spacing the bracket with respect to the edge of the door jambso that the keeper will properly engage the bolt of the lock mounted onthe cabinet door. The bracket has a pair of apertured ears through whichother screws can be inserted to engage the body part of the lock keeperwhich receives the bolt of the lock. The body part of the lock keeper isgenerally U-shaped and has threaded screwholes in its legs to receivethe screws which mount the body to the bracket. The last named screwsare exposed only when the door is opened. When the door is closed thesescrews face the adjacent end edge of the door so that the screws areconcealed and protected from tampering.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide atwo-part lock keeper assembly for a lock on a door, the assemblyincluding a main body part and a retainer or bracket for the main bodypart. Screwholes are provided in both the main body and bracket and arearranged so that they are concealed when the door is closed.

Another object is to provide a two-part lock keeper assembly asdescribed, wherein the bracket includes a rectangular plate withelongated screwholes for adjustably mounting on a door jamb, and withapertured ears extending outwardly from corners of the plate; andwherein the main body part has screwholes to receive screws for engagingthe ears of the bracket, these screws being concealed when the door isclosed.

A further object is to provide a two-part lock keeper assembly asdescribed wherein the main body part is U-shaped, the screwholesreceiving the screws which mount it to the bracket are located in sidesof the legs,

while the free ends of the legs abut the bracket and conceal the screwsmounting the bracket to the door jamb.

For further comprehension, reference may be had to the followingdetailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,in which,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the lock keeper assembly embodying theinvention shown mounted on a door jamb of a cabinet, the door beingshown closed and having a lock engaging the lock keeper.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of parts of the lock keeperassembly.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the main body part of the lock keeperassembly shown in a dilferent position from that in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawing, the door keeper assembly 10 includes abracket or retaner 12 including a fiat rectangular plate 14 formed withspaced elongated holes 16 near opposite narrow edges 18. Holes 16receive screws 17 to mount the bracket on jamb 19 of a cabinet 20. Tworectangular ears 21 are located at corners of the plate at along edge 24and extend perpendicularly outward of the plate in a vertical plane.Holes 26 for receiving screws 28 are provided in ears 21. Lockwashers 30may be provided for screws 17 which engage in threaded holes 31 in afixed plate 32 mounted inside shell 34 in wall 35 of cabinet 20. Theelongated holes 16 permit the bracket to be adjusted laterally towardand away from the end edge or face 38 of the door jamb.

The assembly 10 further includes generally U-shaped main body part 50which is a massive metal block formed with a rectangular cutout 52 todefine two legs 54. Threaded holes '56 in lateral sides 57 of the legsreceive screws 28 for mounting the body part '50 on the bracket. Thenthe flat, free end faces 58 of the legs 54 abut the face of bracketplate 14 to cover and conceal screws 17 and screwholes 16. Recesses 59in faces 58 receive heads of screws 17. Recesses 60 are formed in legs54 to receive the cars 21 of the bracket. The heads of screws 28 arelocated at outer sides of the ears and face in the direction of the endedge or face 62 of door 66. The ears 21 are parallel to end face 38 ofthe door jamb. A recess 68 is provided in one side of the bight 67 ofkeeper body part 50 to receive and engage bolt 70' of lock 72. Therecess opens in the same direction as screwholes 56; see FIGS. 25.

Lock 72 is mounted in conventional fashion on the hinged door 66. Gasket73 is secured to the door. Key 74 operates the cylinder of the lock toextend bolt 70 for engaging in recess 68 of the lock keeper body part50. It will be apparent that when the door is closed and locked, screws28 are inaccessible and cannot be reached by a screwdriver or other suchtool, since they are covered by end face 62 of the door and by gasket73. Only when the door is opened are screws 28 expostd at face 38 of thedoor jamb.

The lock keeper assembly provides increased security and protection forthe contents of cabinet 20 and fulfills a long felt need in the fieldfor a tamper-proof lock keeper.

What is claimed is: t

1. A lock keeper assembly for a cabinet comprising a bracket adjustablymountable by first screws on a door jamb of the cabinet, and a keeperbody mountable by second screws on the bracket, said keeper body andbracket being so arranged that the keeper body covers the first screws,while the second screws are covered by the door only when the door isclosed, said bracket comprising a fiat plate having elongated holes toreceive the first screws for adjustably mounting the plate on the doorjamb, and further comprising rectangular ears extending outwardly of theplate for engaging the keeper body.

2. A lock keeper assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the bracketcomprises a flat rectangular plate having elongated holes to receive thefirst screws for adjustably mounting the plate on the door jamb, andrectangular ears extending out of two adjacent corners of said plate,said ears having holes for receiving the second screws to mount thekeeper body on the bracket.

3. A lock keeper assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein the keeper bodyis generally U-shaped with legs having lateral screwholes to receive thesecond screws when extended through holes in said ears, said legs havingfree end faces disposed to abut the bracket for covering the elongatedholes in said plate.

4. A lock keeper as defined in claim 3 wherein said end faces of thelegs have recesses to receive heads of the first screws.

5. A look keeper assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein the keeper bodyhas other recesses in one side arranged to receive said ears flush withsaid one side of said body, said body having a further recess to receivea bolt of a lock when the door is closed and the lock is locked.

6. A lock keeper assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein the holes insaid ears are countersunk, to receive heads of the second screws whichface the free end face of the door when the door is closed to protectthe keeper body from removal of the second screws while the door isclosed.

7. A lock keeper as defined in claim 1, wherein the bracket comprises aflat plate with holes to receive the first screws, and wherein thekeeper body has lateral holes to receive the second screws for mountingthe same on the bracket.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,127,891 8/1938 Starling292341.18 X 3,257,139 6/1966 Russell 292341.18 3,265,427 8/1966 Williams292341.18 3,361,466 1/1968 Russell 292-341.18

STEPHEN J. NOVOSAD, Primary Examiner E. I. MCCARTHY, Assistant Examiner

